Work begins on Sonora’s new fast-food restaurant

Construction on a new McDonald’s restaurant at Sanguinetti Road and Mono Way in Sonora is underway.

According to project contractor Gary Sons, who owns Fresno-based Brandon Garrett Construction, crews this week have been pouring the foundation, moving rocks for a retaining wall and preparing the site.

Framing work will begin next week, with the store on track to open on March 31, weather permitting, he said.

“It’s mainly a lot of site work,” Sons said of this week’s efforts.

The city of Sonora approved the new McDonald’s more than four years ago, though the developer returned to the city in May to revisit the permit process. The city issued a building permit in December.

The almost 4,000-square-foot restaurant will house the franchise currently located at The Junction shopping center in East Sonora. Owner Dennis Graspointner has previously said the new location will be larger and more comfortable, modern and energy efficient than the current store built in the 1980s.

He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The new facility will have a two-lane drive-through to avoid the long line of cars often seen at The Junction location and all employees are expected to be able to keep their jobs.